August 13th

Sarafina and Philip reports that Their Majesties Savaric and Julianna of the Middle kingdom have placed Mistress Gianetta Andreini da Vicenza on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Pelican.

British soldiers taking part in an excavation in Wessex found fellow soldiers buried 1,400 years ago. The modern soldiers were part of a rehabilitation program for those who were wounded in Afghanistan.

“We have a long way to go before this is over, so don’t get too excited,” says St. Catherine of Siena at the beginning of the second act of Kenneth Lonergan’s Medieval Play at the Signature Center in New York. Ben Brantley of the New York Times has a review.

Super-soakers, water balloons and squirt guns were the weapons of choice as an army of maurading children attacked the fort, defended by adults, at the recent Pennsic War 41. Features reporter, Mary of Montevale, of the Pennsic Independent, was on hand to chronicle the event. (photo)

August 11th

“The Turin Shroud is only one of the many burial cloths which were circulating in the Christian world during the Middle Ages. There were at least 40,” said Antonio Lombatti of the Università Popolare in Parma, Italy. His paper on the subject is scheduled to appear in Studi Medievali.

A treasure of Anglo-Saxon artifacts, found in Loftus, England between 2005 and 2007, has won the Renaissance Museum Award in Durham. The collection has been on display at the Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, since May 2011. (photo)

August 10th

In 1904, archaeologists discovered a Viking grave, containing wooden artifacts including a richly decorated ceremonial wagon, at Oseberg near the Oslo fjords. Since then, the wood fibers have begun to disintegrate, causing worry among officials at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, who have decided to use state-of-the art technology to save the artifacts.

Experts from the Stonehenge Riverside Project have concluded that "Stonehenge was built as a monument to unify the peoples of Britain, after a long period of conflict and regional difference between eastern and western Britain."

August 9th

The Aberdeen Bestiary, a 13th century illustrated book of animals, will be on display at Aberdeen University for the first time. The book, which once belonged Henry VIII, has been in the care of the university for nearly four centuries. (photos)

Developers at the Centre for Advanced Software Technology (Cast) at Bangor University in Wales hope that their new smartphone technology will allow visitors to really enjoy the detail of the historic site.

A team of archaeologists has found a number of structures and artifacts, dating to the 13th century, from an excavation of the St. Peter and St. Paul Monastery at Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

August 8th

Eowyth reports that at Their Court at Raid and Trade, Their Majesties Hirsch and Magdalena, of the Kingdom of Calontir, placed Xerxes Kantakouzenos on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Chivalry.

Ever wonder what the medieval scribe thought about while laboriously copying manuscript after manuscript? "New parchment, bad ink; I say nothing more," wrote one in the margins. "I am very cold," complained another.

August 6th

In 1231, the Jews of Oxford, England were given a small piece of land for a cemetery. The site was used until 1290 when Edward I expelled all the Jews from the country. Now a memorial stone has been placed to mark the "lost" burial ground.

A team of Danish archaeologists believe they have discovered the fabled Viking town Sliasthorp by the Schlei bay in northern Germany, the "center of power for the first Scandinavian kings." The discovery may give a new prospective on Scandinavian military organization. (photo)

Archaeologists are racing against erosion to excavate a 15th century fishing hut in Iceland. While people in the area have been known for centuries to use temporary huts during the fishing season, this one shows signs of longer occupation.

August 5th

Experts previously believed that only four copies of the 16th century Waldseemueller map still existed, but a fifth copy has been discovered between the pages of a 19th century book in Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University. (photo)

The increase in the number of female soldiers in combat has prompted American engineers to design better-fitting body armor for women. Their inspiration: Xena: Warrior Princess, "with more curves in the chest and hips."

August 4th

Researchers have long believed that no manuscripts of early Italian Gregorian chant survived, but Holy Cross professor Daniel DiCenso believes he has found the Monza manuscript, a source dating to the mid 9th century.

In 1264, England's King Henry III refused to honor an agreement given to his barons, thus initiating the Battle of Lewes and prompting the creation of Parliament. Now an archaeological dig is underway to locate the site of the historic battle.

The Board of Directors is very pleased to have received a number of excellent bids for the SCA's 50th Year Celebration. However, due to the special needs of this very special event, it has been decided to extend the bid process to July 31, 2012.